Once I started this book, I did not stop until it was done! I was unexpectedly captivated by the sweetness of the story and by Marcellus the octopus. This for me was a story about family and the ways in which we create that sense of family or re-create it. It is also very much about resiliency and the drive to not only survive but thrive as much as possible. Sometimes that simply means risking abandoning your comfortable place because the hope of more is worth the discomfort.

I adored this book from the very first chapter. The audiobook was fantastic! The voice of Marcellus is perfection. I loved Marcellus! The description does not do this book justice. It seems like Marcellus and Tova are the main characters but the book actually covers quite a few different characters including Ethan and Cameron. This is a hard review because I just want to tell you to GO READ IT NOW!!!!! This is probably the best book I will read all year. It is going to be hard to top. It was a beautiful book and I look forward to reading more by Shelby Van Pett.


Tova started working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium after her husband's death where she begins an unlikely friendship with a Great Pacific Octopus named Marcellus. 30 years ago Tova's son, Erik vanished and Marcellus is trying to find a way to help her figure out what happened. Cameron is also trying to figure out his own mystery. He travels to Sowell Bay to find out who his father is because his mother abandoned him when he was nine years old. He meets Tova and Ethan. Ethan is the local grocer and gossip. This is a beautiful story about unlikely friendships but the experiences that bring people together.

I loved this book! I've already recommended it to three people who are eagerly awaiting its pub date. Marin Ireland was the perfect choice for the main narrator and Michael Urie's Marcellus was amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Sometimes a book just grabs you and Remarkably Bright Creatures grabbed hold of me with all eight arms. Tova Sullivan is a 70 year old widow who works the night shift at Sowell Bay Aquarium cleaning up. She befriends Marcellus, a very smart giant Pacific Ocean octopus. Marcellus has information about what happened to Tova’s teenage son who went missing at sea 30 years ago.

Highly recommend reading this book. I only wish there was more of the story from Marcellus’ point of view.

I can’t wait to read more form Shelby Van Pelt in the future.

Fantastic audio book. Loved listening to Marin Ireland and Michael Urie—they did an amazing job narrating.

I enjoyed this audiobook and thought it was really well done. I like that it was told from three different perspective's and Marcellus' was definitely my favorite! I found that I sometimes had trouble focusing on the storyline as it jumped around a bit and I kept confusing the characters being discussed in the beginning, especially during Tova's narrative. Cameron's character was definitely my least favorite and I think it was during his parts that I zoned out the most. It wasn't enough to DNF it - I really wanted to see how Tova and Cameron's paths would cross. Overall I found this book to be charming and well written - 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Great story with wonderful characters including a giant pacific octopus. A story full of endings and beginnings, trust and loyalty. Loved both narrators.

Have you ever wondered what an octopus is thinking?
Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus at the Sowell Bay Aquarium is always watching and learning about his surroundings. While he misses living in the ocean, he realizes at his old age he will live his remaining years at the aquarium. Tova, a strong widow who works nights cleaning the aquarium, is surrounded by friends but misses her husband and still questions the disappearance of her eighteen-year-old son (off a boat in the Pacific Ocean) over thirty years ago. The two form an unlikely friendship. Marcellus loves exploring (sneaking around) and starts to uncover truths about Tova’s past.
Written in chapters alternating between their voices creates a vivid story about discovering hope and connections in one small town. Van Pelt’s debut novel is charming and engaging with its refreshing look at family. Reader’s will discover that the title is true - an octopus is a remarkably bright creature.

Since the death of her husband, seventy year old Tova has been working the night shift cleaning at her local WA aquarium. One night Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, breaks out of his tank. While on his excursion, Marcellus becomes trapped; desperate to get back into water. Luckily Tova is there to rescue him. She then meets Cameron, a young man, who for thirty years has been wondering why he was abandoned by his parents. This is the charming story of unlikely friendships, the healing of old wounds, and some surprisingly delightful futures and is for anyone who enjoys Kira Jane Buxton.

This is the story of Cameron, a man who never seems to live up to his potential, finishing nothing, succeeding at less, who decides he is going to track down his biological father, despite not even knowing the man’s name. This is also the story of Tova, an elderly woman who cleans the local aquarium at night as she is incapable of sitting still. During her tenure at the aquarium, she forms a friendship with an intelligent and impatient octopus named Marcellus.

The lives of these three characters intersect and intertwine eventually, with each of them providing a path to a better future for one another. This was a beautiful story that slowly revealed their pasts, connections, and the evolution of their relationships.

The audio narration was amazing, I always enjoy Marin Ireland, but Michael Urie’s depiction of the sanctimonious octopus had me laughing too loud to hear the book, requiring frequent pauses. One of my favorite lines, dripping with acid and judgement, was, “Ah, to be a human for whom bliss can be achieved by mere ignorance.” Insanely hilarious!

Wonderful story that I will recommend to all my patrons: it really is a story for everyone. . I'm so glad I was convinced to try this quirky book. Harper Collins marketing people did a superb job getting the word out on this one. Love the cover too.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is nothing I have read before. First of all I loved the cover so much! I also loved how Maurice had is own voice and personality as an octopus kept in captivity at an aquarium. Marcellus was an escape artist who roams the facility at night. Tova is the woman that cleans at night and talks to the sea life at the aquarium. I love that she calls her sofa a Davenport! My grandfather always used Davenport and haven’t heard that word used since the early 90’s. So many characters that have great personalities. Cameron who was abandoned by his mother and raised by his aunt, goes looking for his father with just a few items that his mom left behind. Tova who has lost it all, her son, husband and recently her brother. Finally Marcellus who only wants to be free again. Cameron and Tova both alone and lost in the world find out what it truly means to find friendship and family in the least likely place. When Marcellus narrated his chapters I would burst out laughing. So imaginative!

I absolutely needed this book. I loved every word Marin Ireland and Michael Urie narrated for me. Heart warming story about a pompous Great Pacific octopus Marcellus and the older evening woman custodian Tova . The two became budding friends. With the smart sleuth like abilities Marcellus has, he helps Tova swim through life unexpected turns and hopefully sail into the sunset Maybe sometimes predictable, never the less still most enjoyable. Loved every word, every minute being in my car. As a matter of fact, Remarkably Bright Creatures was the reason I got into my car for my commute. Thank you Shelby Van Pelt for making my commute so enjoyable.

❤️ If you are looking for a read that will warm your heart, I highly recommend Remarkably Bright Creature! An amazing debut novel is one of my favorite things in the world and Van Pelt has certainly achieved this.

🐙 Keep the tissue box handy, because the beautiful friendship between Marcellus (a Giant Pacific octopus) and Tova (the elderly but extremely able woman who cleans the aquarium at night), will bring tears and leave a lasting impression you won’t soon forget.
Be prepared to fall in love with an octopus and dream of befriending one of your own!

🥰 This books has it all: humor, heartache, tragedy and triumph, as well as every type of love we experience as human beings. It will no doubt be one of my top reads this year.

I LOVED this book and could not put it down! This is one I’ll be recommending to a wide range of patrons at my library.

I cannot get enough of this title! Told in alternating voice about Tova (and the people in her life in Solo Bay), Cameron, a 30 year old who has "failed to launch" and Marcellus, an octopus "held in captivity" at the Solo Bay Aquarium where both Cameron and Tova work. I am listening to this as an audiobook and the readers are delightful - but the story line has me hooked. Tova, widowed recently, lost her own son 30 years ago as he prepared to enter college in a boating accident. Now she is facing her aging alone and deciding on a senior living community while selling the house her own father built and she lived most of her married life within. Cameron arrives in town seeking more information about the mother he hasn't seen since he was 9 and the father whom he does not know at all. ;After Tova is injured on the job, Cameron, needing cash, temporarily takes over her overnight cleaning duties at the aquarium. Marcellus (yes, the octopus) immediately sees that the two are genetically linked, and hopes he can get them to realize this before he reaches the end of his lifespan. Witty, well written with extremely loveable characters. Highly recommended for fans of A Man Called Ove, or The Reading List.

Narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie (who also narrated Steven Rowley's Lily and the Octopus) so you know the narration was spot-on. Urie's voice was exactly the right blend of self-assure and hint of an accent (?) that I would expect of an octopus. Well worth the listen just for Marcellus' POV.

This book falls into a genre that I normally don't read: saccharine stories where all the characters get Happily Ever Afters. It's a bit too much for me, although I can see the appeal for those looking to escape reality for a while.

And in keeping with that Hallmark movie genre, you know what you are getting with this book:
1. No surprises. The connection between characters is stated clearly so there's no drama or anticipation.
2. All characters mysteriously have all of their needs met. No one, even the poor and near homeless, suffers. Food, shelter, employment all are provided, so no worries there.
3. Since everyone's needs are met there are no major emotional upheavals.
4. Sense of fate bringing people together.
5. Everyone gets the ending that they need.

So what does that mean for a story? You get a delightful, heartwarming read, albeit a bit fantastical, that provides a bit of respite from reality. And that makes it a good read.

A wonderfully original story with characters that touch your heart. The narration is pitch perfect -- the voice of the octopus is EXACTLY what I imagine an octopus would sound like if it could speak. Can't wait to recommend this one,

CAN A HUMAN AND A GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS COMMUNICATE?

The answer in this debut novel is most definitely YES!!!

Tova is recently widowed and is working as a cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova has always felt that keeping busy was the best way to cope with the things that life throws at you. She also knows a lot about loss, her son Eric aged 18, disappeared 30 years ago, after taking out a boat on Puget sound.

Marcellus is a 60 lb Giant Pacific Octopus who has been living in the Aquarium for several years. He was a rescue but Marcellus considers himself a captive and dreams of returning to the sea. He is also highly intelligent and quite adept at escaping his tank when he wants to roam about!

Cameron is a young man who has come to town looking for the father he never knew. His mother left when he was young and he was raised by his aunt.

The story is told from the point of view of these three characters.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS AUDIOBOOK:

The narrators were absolutely great and the voice of Marcellus is just as I expected it would be, he is intelligent, a bit of a grouch but has formed a bond with Tova. Tova and Camerons voices are also very well done.

The setting of Puget sound is described in all of it’s splendor, I could easily picture the glistening blue waters and almost smell the salt in the air!

While fanciful, this story still had me engaged throughout. The novel is nicely paced and I was never bored.

After listening to this book and loving it, I of course had to Google The Giant Pacific Octopus. I found that it is indeed extremely intelligent and there are many articles about them solving puzzles, escaping from enclosures, etc. They can not only feel with the suckers on their arms but can also smell, they have been known to form bonds with humans.

While the story is somewhat predictable it was still fun to listen to how these two humans and one octopus would solve the mystery of Tova’s missing son.

If you believe that animals can bring comfort and happiness to a person’s life, you will love this book. It is quirky and fun but there are also some serious issues described.

I received this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley and Harper Audio. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this wonderful story!

Tova has been working nights, cleaning the Solway Bay Aquarium since the death of her husband; keeping her hands occupied has always helped quiet her mind. Still, she can’t help ruminate over the disappearance of her son, Erik, who disappeared from a boat in Puget Sound thirty years earlier. Little does Tova know that Marcellus, the Pacific Giant Octopus being held captive in the Aquarium, knows many secrets. Until now, he has not wanted to share that knowledge with the humans he sees as his captors, but Tova is different, and Marcellus decides he must find a way to communicate what happened to Erik. This is an exquisitely beautiful and moving story and will change the way you view not only the denizens of the deep, but our desire to hold them on display for our own amusement